Brandon Valley School Board adopts resolution opposing education savings accounts and voucher programs

The Brandon Valley School Board on a voice vote adopted a resolution opposing education savings accounts and voucher programs proposed for the 2025 legislative session.

Superintendent Larson presented the resolution to the board, reading the whereas clauses that framed the board’s objections. Larson said the proposed program “is simply a different title for a school voucher program” and warned it would use “1,000,000 in public taxpayer dollars to fund non public schools that may pick and choose who they admit while also charging tuition.”

The resolution, as read, said research shows voucher programs “consistently fail to improve academic outcomes,” raised concerns that the state’s revenue collections are stagnant and argued an ongoing voucher program “will eventually lead to an unbalanced state budget or a decrease in funding for public education.” The text also stated the board’s belief that voucher funding would expand beyond initial allocations and be “damaging to the future of our public school system, students, and communities.”

A board member moved to adopt the resolution; another member seconded the motion. The chair called for the question and the motion passed after a voice vote. No individual roll-call vote totals were recorded in the meeting minutes.

The board directed that the adopted resolution be used in communications with the district’s legislative contacts as the 2025 session begins.

The adoption closes the formal action item; the board also urged board members and the community to stay engaged as the session progresses.